When the cast for Survivor 50: In the Hands of the Fans was announced, many of the show's most passionate viewers were shocked for two main reasons. First off, a lot of observers didn't expect Survivor 50's cast, which was originally going to be smaller, to be the biggest in the history of the show. More importantly, many fans were completely taken aback by some of the former players that the show's casting team decided to bring back for the upcoming season.
Joe Hunter is one of Survivor 50's cast members who was a controversial choice. One of three Survivor 48 veterans who were brought back for the upcoming season, alongside Kamilla Karthigesu and Kyle Fraser, the show's viewers had just finished watching Joe's original season when his return was announced. Unfortunately for Joe, many of Survivor's viewers weren't captivated by the way he played the first time and didn't want to see him play again. However, Joe's return could still be great.
Joe Hunter could be great during Survivor 50
During Survivor 48, Joe Hunter played the game with two factors that most of the show's players don't have to cope with. First off, he was very clearly grappling with the circumstances of his sister's horrific passing and their last interaction. Secondly, Joe became a father figure to his tribemate Eva Erickson, and their bond was so tight that he pledged to sacrifice his own game to her benefit if he had to.
When Joe returns for Survivor 50, he certainly won't have Eva by his side. Near the end of Survivor 48, Joe was shown seemingly getting some closure on how guilty he felt about the circumstances of his sister's passing and the nature of their last interaction. While that certainly wouldn't instantly fix the pain that Joe clearly continued to suffer over the tragic loss of his sister, he seemed to get a certain measure of peace. While Joe's emotional recovery is what matters most, that closure may result in Joe carrying less guilt when he returns for Survivor 50.
With Joe potentially walking into Survivor 50 without two huge factors that affected him during his first season, he may play the game differently. Instead of regularly professing his desire to play with integrity above all else, Joe may be willing to mix things up a bit more while still staying true to himself. If Joe turns over a new strategic leaf during the upcoming season, that will be interesting to see.
Joe Hunter's return could also be more of the boring same
To be clear, nothing about this article is intended to denigrate Joe Hunter in any way. Everything that I know about the man screams that he is a wonderful human being. For example, Joe has offered support to suffering people, and his job as a fire captain makes him a legitimate hero. On top of that, Joe seems like a kind and loving father and husband who sincerely took a tribemate under his wing out of concern for them. I have the utmost respect for the person Joe appears to be.
But, I am one of many Survivor fans who simply found the way Joe played the first time to be boring. As such, I am certainly hoping that he mixes things up during Survivor 50. Despite my hopes, the truth remains that Joe could make a lot of the same choices during the upcoming season and bore many viewers in much the same way. Joe could even wind up picking a new tribemate and creating a similar relationship to the one he had with Eva. Joe's choices will only be revealed once Survivor 50 airs.